Today was a threshold workout on the Buff Ranch (where I will be racing this weekend). I did 5x1mile repeats, with one minute of rest between intervals. My first interval was fast (5:08) but felt really easy. I toned it down a bit for the next mile (5:18), then ran miles 3-5 all between 5:18 and 5:24. At the end, I was hitting just the right pace and felt pretty good. After I did some strides, I ran the beginning of my cooldown on the last 800 meters of the course. I imagined it was race day, and I was a bit ahead of the CU pack closing in to the finish. I eyed the scene layed out before be, anticipating the crowd waiting at the finish and the feeling of being in the lead. This is where it is going to hurt, but I know I can gut out a strong finishing kick (no matter how bad it hurts, mental strength can always over-ride bodily fatigue in the finishing kick). I imagined holding off all other contenders to finish in the lead, seconds ahead of my nearest pursuer. The race is going to hurt, but I know that I now have the both the physical and mental ability to run a strong race, and besides, the feeling that you pushed through pain is what makes it feel so satisfying when you cross the line. | 